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Sabaragamuwa (Ratnapura and Kegalle Districs)

The Sabaragamuwa Province is located on the South-Central region of the island and it is made up of the two administrative districts namely, Rathnapura and Kegalle. This province is made up of mountain ranges valleys, streams and rivers. Both these Districts are strictly agricultural with tea, rubber, paddy and coconut plantations making up their major income generating enterprises. However much agrarian oriented these Districts are, the District of Rathnapura has maintained a reputation from historical times, the world over, for the wealth of gems.

The Sabaragamuwa Province is the eighth largest province of Sri Lanka boasting a population of 1,919,487 spread out over a land mass 4900 sq km in extent. Area wise Kegalle District covers 1,663 sq km while Rathnapura District is 3,237 sq km. Rathnapura District located at an elevation of 500ft above sea level, and is the administrative capital of the Sabaragamuwa Province about 100km from Colombo. Kegalle District might even be considered the gateway to the central hills of Sri Lanka and the western region of the Kegalle district is less than 500 ft from the sea level with the eastern region lying 1000ft above the sea level.

The Sabaragamuwa Regional Service Support Center (RSC) of NWSDB was established in 2008. After reorganizing the RSC in line with provincial boundaries, it was decided to have a separate RSC for Sabaragamuwa. As is the requirement a Deputy General Manager (DGM) heads the RSC. He is supported by an Assistant General Manager (AGM) and other managers in carrying out the administrative and operational functions. The most important of the RSC functions is the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of water supply schemes. Other key functions of RSC are: Planning and Design work related to Local Projects; Planning work related to Large Scale Projects; Implementation of Rehabilitation and Augmentation work of the existing schemes; Water Resources Management at the regional or local level; as well as Billing and Revenue collection. Its major task is to provide safe drinking water using new technology and a growing water distribution network.

Naturally, Sabaragamuwa province is made up of mountain ranges and therefore providing pipe borne drinking water facilities to hilly areas is a huge task. However, as of the development of RSC Sabaragamuwa, more than 100,000 families are now provided with safe drinking pipe borne water with covering most of the major cities with higher population density.

The RSC Sabaragamuwa is providing safe drinking water to the community with 12 major water supply schemes in Ratnapura district and 11 major water supply schemes in Kegalle district. Among these water supply schemes, some water treatment plants are newly built automated plants with latest technologies and operations are done with SCADA systems. However, most of the water treatment plants are manually operated full treatment plants and also there are some partial treated water supply schemes within the region.

The National water supply and drainage board is investing Millions of money to building new water treatment plants with better systems. These all investments are being doing to provide a better service with good quality water with adequate quantity to the each citizen within the country. The target of RSC Sabaragamuwa is also to have full treatment plants all over the province and to achieve a higher coverage by providing treated good quality drinking water to the doorsteps of the people living the Sabaragamuwa province.

The quality of water being supplied is tested regularly. Click here for a summary of test results taken island-wide.

Schemes which are presently in operation

Region

Integrated Scheme

Total no. of connections as end of 30 th November 2018

Average Monthly Production(m3/ month)

Ratnapura District

Nivithigala

1,499

23,500

Embilipitiya

13,584

290,000

Kahawatta

2,499

57,000

Pelmadulla

3,310

63,000

Rathnapura

9,961

320,000

Udawalawa

7,445

140,000

Balangoda

7,652

170,000

Godakawela

3,802

76,000

Eheliyagoda

3,389

45,000

Kiriella

313

5,000

Kolonna

1,183

18,000

Rathnapura hospital

4

30,000

Kegalle District

Gonagaldeniya

114

1,500

Ruwanwella

3,172

73,500

Kannantota

887

15,000

Warakapola

1,609

42,000

Kegalle

13,699

320,000

Mawanalla

24,366

480,000

Aranayaka

2,784

42,000

Bulathkohupitiya

500

10,000

Yatiyantota

1,168

22,500

Dehiovita

1,735

27,000

Rambukkana

7,039

175,000

Total

111,710

2,446,000

Ongoing Projects

Distribution System of Greater Ratnapura Water Supply

National Water supply and Drainage Board implemented the Greater Ratnapura water supply project with a Spanish government loan. Accordingly, capacity of the existing treatment facilities has been increased by additional 13,000m3/day. However, the distribution system was not included to the project due limitation of funds.

Hence, laying of the distribution system of Greater Ratnapura water supply project has been planned using the Local bank funds. Approximately 200km of pipes will be laid by the project and the estimated total cost is Rs. 2,777 Million.

Pipe lines will be laid up to Meneripitiya along the Ratnapura-Colombo road and upto Millakade along Ratnapura-Panadura road. In addition pipes will be laid along all the by roads in the area. Total number of beneficiaries from the project is 80,000 and it will cover 25 GNDs.

Water Supply & Sanitation Improvement Project (WaSSIP)

The construction works under Water Supply & Sanitation Improvement Project (WaSSIP) were started to provide safe drinking water to the rural community under World Bank funds.

Under the Rural Water Supply component of the project Epalapitiya, Ganepalla and Garagoda Water supply schemes were completed serving 236, 563 and 36 households respectively and the cost is around Rs. Million 92.5.

And also 41% of the overall physical progress has been achieved in the Urban Water supply component of the WaSSIP Project, Greater Galigamuwa WSS. The project consists of construction of 9000 m3/day capacity water treatment plant, transmission and distribution system with service reservoirs covering 29 Grama Niladhari Divisions serving 45,012 people. The total cost of the project is Rs. Million 2,300.

Awareness programmes for school children

The water is one of the most important natural resource in the world. However, population continues to grow and people are putting ever-increasing pressure on the planet's water resources. Humans are the main cause of water pollution, but it is our duty to protect this natural resource. One of the best methods to protect water from the pollution is, aware the society regarding the negative aspects of water pollution.

To make that move success, RSC (Sabaragamuwa), National Water Supply & Drainage Board had commenced awareness programmes for school children to inform them regarding the importance of protecting natural water resources. The main purpose of these programmes is to deepen awareness and understanding regarding negative aspects of water pollution among school children such that it will be beneficial to both the students and the society in the short term as well as the long term in regards of protecting natural water resources.

Rakwana St. Anthony's college (11.10.2018)

Balangoda Tamil School (27.09.2018)

Eheliyagoda Dharmapala Vidyalaya (2016)

Charity Programme in Pothupitiya Rural Hospital

The Staff Welfare Society of RSC (Sabaragamuwa) had organized a charity programme on 02.02.2019 in Pothupitiya rural hospital to uplift its facilities. In this programme, Staff Welfare Society of RSC (Sabaragamuwa) had organized a shramadana campaign in hospital premises. The hospital beds, cupboards and other equipment were cleaned and & painted. The hospital surrounding also well cleaned and arraigned pleasantly by performing some landscaping activities. And also Staff Welfare Society of RSC (Sabaragamuwa) had donated some essential equipment to the Pothupitiya rural hospital and those items are worth more than Rs. 250,000. These equipment were requested by the hospital staff and they will be really helpful for uplift the service of the hospital.

The event was organized under the supervision of DGM (Sabaragamuwa) and all of these activities were conducted by the participation of staff of RSC (Sabaragamuwa). The hospital staff and volunteers from Pothupitiya village also participated to this event to make this event success.